Weatherford High School senior cheerleader Anahi Nunez is easy to spot on the sidelines, but not just because of the uniform or the bright Friday night lights. As the game-day captain and a side base for the Eagles, she takes pride in leading by example and setting a standard for energy, effort and togetherness.
Nunez said that foundation started at home with her parents, who she calls her biggest inspiration. “Definitely my parents, they have always worked super hard to make sure I have the opportunities I have now,” she said. That work ethic shows up in the way she approaches cheer, school and her teammates.
This year, Nunez, a senior, lists math as her favorite subject and points to Coach Willis, who taught her in ninth and 10th grade, as her favorite teacher. The structure and problem-solving in math appeal to her, much like the timing and precision needed to perform stunts and lead a crowd.
On the cheer squad, her role stretches beyond stunts and chants. As game-day captain, she helps set the tone during practices and on the sidelines, while her job as a side base has her literally lifting others up. “I love all the laughs we share together, some of my favorite memories have been with these girls,” Nunez said.
Those memories are built long before the first kickoff of the season. The Eagles practice two to three times a week and also lift weights in the mornings through the school’s program, time that Nunez said is critical to their success. Away from cheering, she enjoys hanging out with friends and shopping, a balance that helps her enjoy both the work and the fun of high school life.
Cheer has also given her lessons she expects to carry well beyond Weatherford. “How to work with people and deal with tough situations,” she said of what athletics has taught her. She credits former teammate Eva Lopez for showing her what that looks like every day. “A teammate that left an impression on me is Eva Lopez, she always worked so hard, and has so much talent, and she is so sweet and supportive,” Nunez said.
